Environmental challenges are among the most pressing issues facing citizens in the
21st century. Few local, national, or international conflicts lack an environmental
dimension. Understanding these environmental problems requires an interdisciplinary
approach that integrates the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and the
arts. We cannot adequately understand an issue like water pollution through a single
disciplinary perspective; it involves anthropology, biology, business, chemistry,
economics, geosciences, government, history, literature, and sociology. The mission
of Environmental Studies is to help students develop literacy at the intersection
of these disciplines.

We emphasize the integration of problem-solving within an interdisciplinary framework.
Our students design and carry out empirical research and develop and defend their
conclusions through clear written and spoken presentations. Environmental Studies
students will graduate with rigorous and multifaceted problem-solving skills necessary
to frame, describe, analyze, and offer realistic solutions to environmental challenges.

The Environmental Studies program includes courses that are interdisciplinary and
that address environmental issues from a disciplinary perspective, and offers both
a major and a minor degree. We immerse our students in the complexities of environmental
issues through both classroom and experiential learning, locally and abroad. Students
enrich their academic learning with experiences outside the classroom to foster responsible
citizenship and to help our students understand the challenges of creating environmentally
sustainable communities.